Sandeep Girotra to be new Nokia head for India

Finnish telecom gear maker Nokia said Sandeep Girotra would become the head of India as part of the planned merger of the company and Alcatel-Lucent.NEW DELHI: Finnish telecom gear maker Nokia said Sandeep Girotra would become the head of India as part of the planned merger of the company and Alcatel-Lucent.

Girotra is currently vice president and head of India, Nokia Networks.

The company said Girotra would oversee the combined company's customer operations across India, driving the execution of strategy and ensuring superior customer service, underpinned by a strong focus on innovation and quality.

Nokia in April had announced the acquisition of French firm Alcatel-Lucent in an all-stock deal valued at 15.6 billion euros ($16.6 billion).

"Sandeep Girotra would become the head of India as part of the planned combination of Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent, after and subject to the successful closing of the public exchange offer for Alcatel-Lucent securities announced on April 15, 2015," the company said in a statement.

Girotra joined Nokia Networks in 1996 and has held a number of different roles in India, heading the region since 2011. In 2010 he served as head of sales for business solution networks having been customer team head at IDEA Cellular within Nokia Siemens Networks from 2007 to 2009.

"We are delighted to announce the appointment of Sandeep Girotra as designated head of India. He brings valuable regional experience and expertise, and would be a great asset to the management team," Chowdhary said.

The proposed appointment is effective only after the successful closing of the public exchange offer and is subject to the completion of the relevant works council consultation procedures, it added.